RARE View Rooftop

New York, United States

3.7

22 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 212-481-1999
Website:
www.rarebarandgrill.com
Address:
303 Lexington Ave Floor 16, New York, NY, 10016
b/t 38th St & 37th St
Midtown East, Murray Hill
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.2 miE 24 St / Park Av
0.2 miE 24 St / Lexington Av
0.2 miE 42 St / Lexington Av
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Apple Pay
Yes
Accepts Bitcoin
No
Parking
Garage, Street
Bike Parking
No
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Ambience
Trendy
Noise Level
Average
Good For Dancing
No
Alcohol
Full Bar
Happy Hour
No
Best Nights
Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check
No
Smoking
Yes
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Has TV
Yes
Dogs Allowed
No
Has Pool Table
No

Today

Today –
Local time (New York) 07:19 Sunday, 29 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 4:30 pm – 1:00 am
Tuesday 4:30 pm – 1:00 am
Wednesday 4:30 pm – 4:45 pm
Thursday 4:30 pm – 4:45 pm
Friday 4:30 pm – 4:45 pm
Saturday 5:00 pm – 1:00 am
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Rare View Murray Hill is open for the season! Rare View is a seasonal Rooftop Bar & Garden showcasing stunning 360-​degree views of the NYC skyline. Our gorgeous 4,000 square foot garden is divided into different areas such as the «Picnic Patch,» «Beer Shed,» «Champagne Garden,» & «V.I.P» (Very Important Patio). The seasonal cocktail menu uses fresh muddled fruits & top notch liquors. Known for our Mango Margarita & our staple Sexy Sexy Cocktail — we also offer a Cucumber Lemon Martini, The Tip Top View & a Just Peachy. There is also a refreshing wine selection, extensive draft beer menu.

RARE View Rooftop is the prime spot for happy hours, summer nights under the stars, romantic dates or game days as there are multiple outside flat screens in the beer shed. We are known for our fiery sunsets, views of iconic buildings such as Empire State, Chrysler, Met Life & Freedom Tower. We host a laid– back, upbeat vibe with great music, cocktails & lively crowd: A true NYC summer staple.

History

Established in 2004.

RARE View Rooftop was established in 2004 on the 16th story of the Affinia Shelburne Hotel, along with it’s sister restaurant RARE Bar & Grill on the main level of the hotel.

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22 reviews of RARE View Rooftop

No registration required
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Good drinks and service! I loved the cucumber drink I don’t remember what it’s called but it’s good! Enjoy the view!
Place rating: 1
New York, NY
Here on a Tuesday and they kicked us out at 11pm. A well drink is $ 15. Music stopped earlier.
Place rating: 4
Jamaica, NY
This place is the best after work spot. Good music. Tasty, reasonably priced drinks with fun names. My favorite is the Killin’ It Cucumber made with cucumber vodka. Located on the 17th floor of the modern Shelbourne Hotel, it has stunning views of the Empire State and Chrystler Buildings. Perfect for pics! Arrive early to dine at Rare Burger on ground level and head up to the rooftop as seats are on a first-​come-​first-​served basis.
Place rating: 3
TriBeCa, Manhattan, NY
Rare View
NY Manhattan Murray Hill
8pm Saturday 11th June 2016
Three Stars
The entrance is around the corner from the restaurant on the first floor. There is a slightly misleading sign but just walk up the ramp and take a left inside. You will then be greeted by an annoyed bouncer who will check your ID and stamp your hand. From there, you take the 12 single 12-​person elevator to the 16th floor rooftop. There were plenty of seating areas. The perimeter is surrounded by lattice work obstructing the view but protecting drunken individuals from plummeting to their death. You get a decent view of the Empire State Building and the H&M Tower. However, this far On the east side prevents you from having a meaningful view of the sunset. The drink service was slow but understandable. I had a $ 18 Markers Mark. It was a good pour with lots of ice in a Click-​Clack glass. Overall, it was one of less ridiculous rooftops that I have been to in NYC.
Place rating: 2
New York, NY
There’s only one elevator that takes forever to get up to the top so this creates a huge line both to get in the elevator and to have your ID checked by security.
A rail mixed drink was $ 14 and it was tiny. I get that it’s a rooftop so drinks come at a premium but come on now. I’ve been to plenty of other rooftops in Midtown that either have a happy hour (which this one does not), give bigger/​stronger pours per drink, or at least are well-​known hotels with top-​of-​the-​line service.
The view is decent but better service and/​or prices can be found elsewhere.
Place rating: 4
Bayonne, NJ
Went here last night for a friend’s event. A bit tricky to find as the entrance is on the side street. Arrived around 11, no line. The rooftop was a beautiful location, nothing crazy. Very relaxing, low-​key. Great place to kick back on a rooftop in the city and catch up. Drinks are $ 15 but given it’s in New York, it’s expected. Would not mind going here again.
Place rating: 3
Brooklyn, NY
I been here a couple of times before but Lapin and I came here recently for my company’s social event. To get to the Rooftop, you have to ride the elevator in the Hilton’s hotel lobby. There is two sections unless your company buys out the entire rooftop, if you were to come as a part of an event but if you come during normal hours there is ample seating area to choose from. The rooftop is partially covered in some sections and is spacious. The bathrooms are usually very clean. The drinks were delicious and with a generous pour, my favorite was the Midori Sour. We ordered a couple glasses of Prosecco (Chloe) and they came in dirty, cracked plastic flutes. For the price for each glasses, it’s a bit of a disgrace to serve drinks in shitty plastic flutes. The food was decent, but our favorite was the veggie spring rolls and guac and chips (they had a delicious kick to them!). They were also very slow on passing out food for almost every single event I have attended. On a side note, the view is amazing, so bring sure to bring your camera for photos!
Place rating: 4
New York, NY
This place is normally fantastic but we tried it as room service at the shelburne hotel and was disappointed. It just looked unappetizing. I ordered the tuna salad which needed salt and they didn’t bring any. My dad got the flank steak and it all came separately so we had to put the plate together. It just made it look kind of gross.
Place rating: 1
Washington, DC
Not sure about their dinner but the brunch is awful.
Tiny! expensive dishes.
Not worth it.
Place rating: 4
Manhattan, NY
I absolutely love rare’s fries. Make sure you try the assortment basket. Their burgers and pretty much everything else on the menu is great.
The rooftop has a beautiful view, prices and services is comparable to other NYC rooftops, not cheap and not quick.
Still, it’s one of my favorite places in the city.
Place rating: 5
Manhattan, NY
Love this place! Great views and great drinks! The bartenders are very friendly and will suggest drinks based on your liking. A little pricey for a happy hour spot but well worth the ambience and drinks.
Hoping to try the food next time. Try to get there before 530⁄6 to avoid the line outside. There are usually corporate events on Thursdays so either get there super early around 5⁄530 or choose to wait in the long line.
Definitely recommend the rooftop as a hangout for the summer!
Place rating: 5
Brooklyn, NY
My now favorite rooftop bar. Loved it so much went twice in a row! What I loved most was that it wasn’t too crowded, and there’s plenty of room for everyone. Went there wed and thurs night and we were able to get seats. The view is spectacular, the staff is friendly and attentive, drinks are decently priced and worth it. My favorite was the money juice. Can’t wait to go back!
Place rating: 3
ASTORIA, NY
I came here with coworkers after being told that the wait for the POD39 rooftop around the corner was going to be upwards of an hour.
RARE was considerably less crowded for prime summer happy hour time, but it didn’t feel too empty either. The views were spectacular, and the space itself is laid out very nicely, with cushioney chairs and stools to lounge in.
This place doesn’t serve any food besides chips and dip, which were actually pretty solid, so eat before you come here. Like most NYC rooftops, be prepared to shell out $ 15 for a cocktail.
Place rating: 3
Bayside, Queens, NY
Wait, an unpretentious rooftop lounge that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? Just kidding, this place is exactly that. But you get what you pay for, and the views are fantastic here. Predictably packed for a Saturday night, but not in an uncomfortable way. Servers are very professional, and there’s no real pressure to dress up here. Pretty string lights are always a plus in my book, too. Great spot for a laid-​back evening, especially with a group. Don’t miss out on the photo opportunities, either~
Place rating: 5
Long Island, NY
True to its name, RARE rooftops is a unique and exquisite gem of the city.
While my all time favorite rooftop is Press Lounge, when you don’t feel like hiking all the way to the west side or waiting in line, RARE should be your go-​to for summer lounging.
I’ve been here twice now– once in the spring when it was still chilly for a birthday bash and yesterday to show off the sites in the city to visiting friends. At 9PM, our group of 5 got in without a wait. When we left, 1.5 hours later, no line was present for the elevator either.
We easily found ourselves a table with comfy cushioned seating and a view of the Chrysler Building. This rooftop also boast some amazing sights of the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center.
There are 2 bars at RARE. For cocktails, my friends raved about the peach and Sexy Sexy. The grapefruit beer also received positive feedback. Cocktails were typical NYC price: $ 15– well worth it for the view.
Next time, I’ll like to frequent the happy hour (discounted drinks– hooray!) Overall, RARE is the ideal backdrop to a romantic date, friendship reunion, or any celebration! Thanks for raising the roof, RARE!
Place rating: 4
San Antonio, TX
What a view of NYC!
My close friend and I met up for drinks and to catch up here late Monday night.
We were redirected from the restaurant to the rooftop view via elevator. The staff was super friendly!
We got sangria from the bar. The prices are steep, and that’s the reason for –1 star.
Besides that, a great place to enjoy the NYC skyline at night and have a drink.
Save the second drink for another spot or else your wallet may not like you.
Also, it’s a nice semi upscale but casual bar.
Place rating: 3
Manhattan, NY
Stunning views and really nice atmosphere. Only downside was that my cocktail, whilst tasty, felt more pre-​mixed than mixologist and at that price I would hope for a little better.
Place rating: 4
Manhattan, NY
A little more casual than I expected but the rooftop is nearly wrapped all around the building. I came here for the fourth, great view of fireworks. Staff was helpful with drinks, cava was $ 12 a glass, which is standard ny prices. Its gorgeous when the sun sets, because the tea lights come on and you can see the empire state building, one world trade center, and chrysler building all in one rooftop
Place rating: 4
Manhattan, NY
Beautiful views of the Empire State Building, and a perfect spot to go during the summer, after work or on the weekend!
Drinks are obviously on the more expensive side, especially if you’re imbibing in cocktails. But I would still venture up here because:
1. Miraculous views
2. Trendy atmosphere
3. Fun music
4. More casual than you would expect.
Place rating: 3
Glen Oaks, NY
I was here last night for an event after work. It’s a cute place, but if you are not a hotel guest you have to go through the side entranceon 37th street, which I did not know. So that required me to go into the hotel and then back outside once I was told. Also, the elevators are small, so beware of a small wait to go up and going back down.
Once I got upstairs the seating was cute, mostly wooden-​like benches with pillows and such. Then i went all the way around and found myself in the main area where the bar was and the view of the Empire State Building. I wish the weather was nicer, but it was definitely a great view. The drinks like any other rooftop are expensive. I just kept it simple and had a white sangria for $ 10, it was okay but not much. As part of the event we had the small sliders and chips and guac. The sliders were alright, but the chips and guac were better.
I would just come back for the view on a nicer day.
Place rating: 3
New York, NY
This is a pretty reliable summer rooftop if you’re looking for one.
The rooftop is big and I’ve never had an issue getting in due to capacity (unlike the Pod 39 rooftop around the corner).
Don’t be put off by the elevator line, it’s only due to elevator capacity (holds 10 people) and not because there’s no space on the rooftop.
The drinks are pricey and (dare I say) a bit weak, but tasty, especially if you’re looking for a sugary mojito fix — which will cost you about $ 12.
The crowd is so-​so. Sometimes unfriendly, skews younger, but usually locals. Usually the staff is pretty nice.
Overall, nothing too special — but definitely great, spacious option if you need a rooftop with decent views.
Place rating: 5
London, United Kingdom
What a treat and such an amazing view! We went for a drink here and had heard there was a great view but it was even better. Plus, I had one of the nicest cocktails ever! It’s called Fashionista and is passionfruit, lychee, lime and rum. I highly recommend it! The bar was pretty quiet on Sunday evening but I imagine it’s packed on a Friday or Saturday, especially in the summer when I think the roof slides off to make an outdoor area.
There’s a good range of comfortable sofas and high tables and stools. They do play sports which would put me off a little but they don’t put the sound on so it’s not intrusive. They play good music though.
We only had one drink as they were closing but I’d definitely go again if I’m in New York to have another of their cocktails and to enjoy the view without a heavy price tag.